She’s Running
(Clip 5 of 5)
[Starts at 11:43]
ANNA ESKAMANI:
[Speaking into microphone at podium] No matter the color of your skin, how much money you
make, who you worship, who you love, your gender identity, your disability status—you should
have the opportunity to live life to its fullest potential. This is not the end of a movement; this is
the beginning. Let’s do it. Thank you.
[Audience cheering and chanting “Anna, Anna”]
[Video shows Anna sitting in a bathtub, fully clothed]
[Reading] With all but four election precincts counted, Eskamani had an 11,000-vote lead.
Eskamani, 28, of Orlando, raised more than a half a million dollars for her campaign attracted
attention in numerous ways. She also pushed her own story—the daughter of Iranian
immigrants…
IDA ESKAMANI:
[Climbs into tub with Anna] Are we sitting in here together?
ANNA ESKAMANI:
We’re sitting in here together. [Laughs]
[Reading] She also pushed her own…
I just Googled and I’m like, all these articles…
IDA ESKAMANI:
Like, your name?
ANNA ESKAMANI:
[Reading] She also pushed her own story—the daughter of Iranian immigrants who had worked
hard and sacrificed to achieve the American dream for their children.
IDA ESKAMANI:
Is this real? You’re going to be fighting for us in the Florida House, girl.
ANNA ESKAMANI:
Every day. And also, like, just really…
IDA ESKAMANI:
[Mimics speaking into microphone] “Mr. Speaker…”
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ANNA ESKAMANI:
Yeah! I’ll be like, “Mr. Speaker…”
[Women laugh]
ANNA ESKAMANI:
[Deep voice] Representative Eskamani…
I’ll be like, “Mr. Speaker, that bill is trash.” [Laughing] [12:55]
TEXT ON SCREEN:
FL House of Representatives
District 47
Anna Eskamani – 57.3%
Stockton Reeves – 42.7%
Source: Florida Division of Elections
[Music]
TEXT ON SCREEN:
The Next Day
ANNA ESKAMANI:
This wasn’t a tight race. We’re on the right side of history. We have to be bold; we have to be
authentic. And we can’t leave anyone behind.
DEIDRE DEJEAR:
Everything about it was worth it. It was definitely a growing experience.
PEARL KIM:
Even though I lost this race, there’s a sense that I feel that I did win because I was able to get my
message out and make my little mark in history.
MORGAN ZEGERS:
I was either going to be an assemblywoman at 21, or I was going to have a new path in life. So
now I will be spending the afternoon applying to jobs.
ANNA ESKAMANI:
We’re sworn in November 20. Session will actually start in March of 2019.
PEARL KIM:
I definitely want to continue public service.
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DEIDRE DEJEAR:
I’m going to continue to be an advocate for voting rights. I, of course, feel like I let people down
in not winning; that people were depending on me. But that’s why I feel more compelled to
continue going. [13:56]
PEARL KIM:
After CNN, I was approached by a literary agent. They were interested in writing my story, and I
hope to sign with him today. Literally today, I hope. [Laughs]
MORGAN ZEGERS:
I would prefer—I think it’s part of why I’m a Republican—I believe a good job that’s long and
steady and you can depend on it is really what makes the world go ’round, so I want everybody
to have one of those opportunities in their life, and that means lowering taxes… I’m not getting
into that. I would like a steady, long-term career, and politics doesn’t really give you that, does
it? No. [Shakes head and smiles]
ANNA ESKAMANI:
I still have so many competing priorities, including getting my doctorate and my full-time job—
and now serving the great people of District 47—and so making sure I can fit everything into a
day is going to be always my biggest challenge. But, honestly, I know that I can do anything.
[14:49]
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